You did a good job capturing the detached, purposeful, efficient cruelty of the Romulans here as well as that underlying passion in Sokal's actions--an incredible depth of ugliness and cruelty lies beneath her surface beauty.
Dauntless 1x04 - To Serve the Unwise
- Thread starter BrotherBenny
- Start date
I wasn't really sure if I had Sokal's behaviour right, but thought I would leave it and see what you guys thought.
Guess I had it right.
Next section be up in a few days. Mirandafave, I'm not sure where this is going either, to be honest. I have the main plot in my head, but the subplots have a mind of their own.
Guess I had it right.
Next section be up in a few days. Mirandafave, I'm not sure where this is going either, to be honest. I have the main plot in my head, but the subplots have a mind of their own.
Oh I really liked seeing things from the villain's perspective. Well in fact she appears to be a Starfleet ally which makes things even more interesting. Will Starfleet tolerate this kind of behavior in exchange for her help? That could create an interesting dilemma.
Great segment.
Great segment.
RobertScorpio
Pariah
Cue evil Romulan laughter at some heinous plot and typical Rommie efficiency in carrying out a dastardly action ...
Really just don't know where you are going with this - terrific! No chance of Sela popping up in this story?!
I was thinking the same thing...don't romulans make the most devious laughers????
And I agree, I have no idea where this story is heading and I really like that...
Rob
Scorpio
Please, give me some credit. Anyway, we're talking two hundred years, not 120.
Regent’s Office
Ynelav IV
Stardate 57389.2
Regent Dolan stared at the screen in horror.
The Romulans had caused a nuclear tragedy, kidnapped two hundred Ynelavii citizens and now wished for access into the reliquaries. He was not going to allow his citizens to be executed, as the Romulans had expressed their wish to do so, especially not with the damage caused to the coastal region outside the capital city. Three civilisation centres were now nothing more than radioactive wastelands and the capita city’s power was existing on batteries and solar power. The remnants of the radioactive cloud were still visible in the sky and he had every available medical resource on alert combating the radiation sickness which was sweeping through the southern edge of the city.
Standing beside him was Jonek, his former aide and now liaison to the Romulans. ‘It would be wise to have the ships lower their shields. Once the Romulans have taken our people we can negotiate for their release, but preventing them from taking our people could cause more damage.’
Dolan nodded. ‘I agree, but how much more technology do we have that they will just take?’
‘I have asked that question and I believe them when they say that they now have as much of the warbird and its innards as they are likely to find.’
‘Very well, have the shields lowered and let them complete their scans. Do you think you could see to it that their troops are removed?’
‘They won’t remove their troops until every Ynelavii citizen has been scanned for evidence of a Romulan bloodline.’
‘What are their estimates?’
‘They have traced fourteen bloodlines back to the Romulan who crash-landed. The one coordinating the troop movements tells me that there will probably be another forty bloodlines.’
‘Another six hundred people?’ Dolan made the calculation in his head. ‘And they still want to execute them?’
Jonek nodded. ‘Yes, Regent.’
Dolan shook his head. ‘Forget it. I’m not putting up with this anymore. Who is in charge of the fleet?’
‘Colonel Ferok, sir.’
‘Open a channel, secure frequency.’
‘Regent, this course of action is not recommended.’
‘Do it.’
‘Yes sir,’ Jonek replied and opened a secure channel to the Oxelus.
‘Regent?’ Colonel Ferok asked.
‘I am giving you a green light,’ Dolan said. ‘Remove that ship from orbit using whatever means necessary.’
Ferok nodded. ‘It will be done, Regent,’ the colonel replied and cut the channel as he turned to face the bridge crew.
Dolan activated the planet-wide emergency broadcast network. ‘This is Regent Dolan and I speak to you now of the day of a grave injustice. The Romulan troops you have seen and been in contact with have destroyed the nuclear generator outside the capital city, killing hundreds, and destroying the local wildlife sanctuary. They are kidnapping your friends and relatives with plans to execute them. I call on you now to do whatever it takes to resist their efforts at destroying our way of life.’
‘That was a mistake, sir,’ Jonek replied.
‘No, what was a mistake was letting this get so far in the first place. You can either remain as liaison to the enemy, or join me as my Vice Regent.’
Jonek smiled. ‘I will join you, Regent.’
‘Excellent, I suggest you pass out weapons to everyone. A worldwide insurgency is the only way we’re going to get rid of these Romulans.’
‘We will lose a lot of people.’
‘But we’ll save our world.’
‘At what point is the price too high? How far do you think Subcommander Sokal will go to get what she wants?’
‘She’ll go as far as she needs to, to get everything she wants. I have no doubt that she will kill a lot of people just because they represent a threat that doesn’t exist,’ Dolan replied. ‘I cannot foresee a time when eight hundred Ynelavii will travel to Romulus and ask for their birthright. We had no idea the Romulans even existed before they arrived here.’
Jonek started at a noise down the corridor.
‘Sokal can beam into this office if she wanted to,’ Dolan said.
‘Another coup?’
‘Unlikely,’ he said but opened the door a fraction and peered down the hallway.
The militia guards were gone and the corridor was deserted. None of the aides or ministers or scientists could be seen either.
‘Regent?’
‘Yes?’ Dolan asked, turning to face his colleague and friend.
‘We’re getting reports of fighting across every province. The people are attacking Romulans on sight using whatever weapons they have to hand.’
‘We’ll get a response from her soon enough.’
As if on cue both men were caught in the tingle of a transporter beam. They materialised on the bridge of the Romulan warbird and faced Subcommander Sokal.
‘Your actions today have cost a great many lives,’ she said and pointed him toward the debris on the screen. ‘This is what remains of your space fleet. My troops have the upper hand on the surface and your world will cower in fear before this day is over.’
‘I have more ships,’ Dolan pointed out with a smile. ‘My people will never give up until every last Romulan is dead or off-world and the Ynelavii fear no one. You will have to kill every last one of us before we give you anything.’
Sokal stepped toward him but was stopped by Jonek, who rested a hand on her arm. She couldn’t move.
‘You will take your people off our world and return every Ynelavii to the surface. Take what remains of your ship and leave this sector.’
‘I will not!’ she replied but felt her mind waver. It was unnerving.
‘You will do as I ask or you will be struck down,’ Jonek warned.
‘Remove your hand.’
Jonek did so and the warbird shuddered.
‘What was that?’
‘A discharge from the sun, Subcommander, directed at our engines.’
‘How did you do that?’ she asked as she slumped in her chair, unable to stand.
Jonek waved his hand and the two men returned to the surface.
‘Jonek,’ Dolan touched the man’s arm.
‘It would appear as though I am the Seer, returned to the land of my people.’
Dolan sighed, and knelt before his friend, the Saviour of the Ynelavii.
‘Rise, Regent Dolan. Our world will be healed,’ he said and pointed at the screen.
Before the Regent’s eyes, the damaged ecosystem was return to its former glory and the images of fighting Romulans vanished. In seconds, the screens were eerily silent.
‘There is nothing I can do about the power,’ Jonek said with a sad smile. ‘If you’ll excuse me, I must go to the reliquary and speak with the Adepts.’
Dolan nodded.
Ynelav IV
Stardate 57389.2
Regent Dolan stared at the screen in horror.
The Romulans had caused a nuclear tragedy, kidnapped two hundred Ynelavii citizens and now wished for access into the reliquaries. He was not going to allow his citizens to be executed, as the Romulans had expressed their wish to do so, especially not with the damage caused to the coastal region outside the capital city. Three civilisation centres were now nothing more than radioactive wastelands and the capita city’s power was existing on batteries and solar power. The remnants of the radioactive cloud were still visible in the sky and he had every available medical resource on alert combating the radiation sickness which was sweeping through the southern edge of the city.
Standing beside him was Jonek, his former aide and now liaison to the Romulans. ‘It would be wise to have the ships lower their shields. Once the Romulans have taken our people we can negotiate for their release, but preventing them from taking our people could cause more damage.’
Dolan nodded. ‘I agree, but how much more technology do we have that they will just take?’
‘I have asked that question and I believe them when they say that they now have as much of the warbird and its innards as they are likely to find.’
‘Very well, have the shields lowered and let them complete their scans. Do you think you could see to it that their troops are removed?’
‘They won’t remove their troops until every Ynelavii citizen has been scanned for evidence of a Romulan bloodline.’
‘What are their estimates?’
‘They have traced fourteen bloodlines back to the Romulan who crash-landed. The one coordinating the troop movements tells me that there will probably be another forty bloodlines.’
‘Another six hundred people?’ Dolan made the calculation in his head. ‘And they still want to execute them?’
Jonek nodded. ‘Yes, Regent.’
Dolan shook his head. ‘Forget it. I’m not putting up with this anymore. Who is in charge of the fleet?’
‘Colonel Ferok, sir.’
‘Open a channel, secure frequency.’
‘Regent, this course of action is not recommended.’
‘Do it.’
‘Yes sir,’ Jonek replied and opened a secure channel to the Oxelus.
‘Regent?’ Colonel Ferok asked.
‘I am giving you a green light,’ Dolan said. ‘Remove that ship from orbit using whatever means necessary.’
Ferok nodded. ‘It will be done, Regent,’ the colonel replied and cut the channel as he turned to face the bridge crew.
Dolan activated the planet-wide emergency broadcast network. ‘This is Regent Dolan and I speak to you now of the day of a grave injustice. The Romulan troops you have seen and been in contact with have destroyed the nuclear generator outside the capital city, killing hundreds, and destroying the local wildlife sanctuary. They are kidnapping your friends and relatives with plans to execute them. I call on you now to do whatever it takes to resist their efforts at destroying our way of life.’
‘That was a mistake, sir,’ Jonek replied.
‘No, what was a mistake was letting this get so far in the first place. You can either remain as liaison to the enemy, or join me as my Vice Regent.’
Jonek smiled. ‘I will join you, Regent.’
‘Excellent, I suggest you pass out weapons to everyone. A worldwide insurgency is the only way we’re going to get rid of these Romulans.’
‘We will lose a lot of people.’
‘But we’ll save our world.’
‘At what point is the price too high? How far do you think Subcommander Sokal will go to get what she wants?’
‘She’ll go as far as she needs to, to get everything she wants. I have no doubt that she will kill a lot of people just because they represent a threat that doesn’t exist,’ Dolan replied. ‘I cannot foresee a time when eight hundred Ynelavii will travel to Romulus and ask for their birthright. We had no idea the Romulans even existed before they arrived here.’
Jonek started at a noise down the corridor.
‘Sokal can beam into this office if she wanted to,’ Dolan said.
‘Another coup?’
‘Unlikely,’ he said but opened the door a fraction and peered down the hallway.
The militia guards were gone and the corridor was deserted. None of the aides or ministers or scientists could be seen either.
‘Regent?’
‘Yes?’ Dolan asked, turning to face his colleague and friend.
‘We’re getting reports of fighting across every province. The people are attacking Romulans on sight using whatever weapons they have to hand.’
‘We’ll get a response from her soon enough.’
As if on cue both men were caught in the tingle of a transporter beam. They materialised on the bridge of the Romulan warbird and faced Subcommander Sokal.
‘Your actions today have cost a great many lives,’ she said and pointed him toward the debris on the screen. ‘This is what remains of your space fleet. My troops have the upper hand on the surface and your world will cower in fear before this day is over.’
‘I have more ships,’ Dolan pointed out with a smile. ‘My people will never give up until every last Romulan is dead or off-world and the Ynelavii fear no one. You will have to kill every last one of us before we give you anything.’
Sokal stepped toward him but was stopped by Jonek, who rested a hand on her arm. She couldn’t move.
‘You will take your people off our world and return every Ynelavii to the surface. Take what remains of your ship and leave this sector.’
‘I will not!’ she replied but felt her mind waver. It was unnerving.
‘You will do as I ask or you will be struck down,’ Jonek warned.
‘Remove your hand.’
Jonek did so and the warbird shuddered.
‘What was that?’
‘A discharge from the sun, Subcommander, directed at our engines.’
‘How did you do that?’ she asked as she slumped in her chair, unable to stand.
Jonek waved his hand and the two men returned to the surface.
‘Jonek,’ Dolan touched the man’s arm.
‘It would appear as though I am the Seer, returned to the land of my people.’
Dolan sighed, and knelt before his friend, the Saviour of the Ynelavii.
‘Rise, Regent Dolan. Our world will be healed,’ he said and pointed at the screen.
Before the Regent’s eyes, the damaged ecosystem was return to its former glory and the images of fighting Romulans vanished. In seconds, the screens were eerily silent.
‘There is nothing I can do about the power,’ Jonek said with a sad smile. ‘If you’ll excuse me, I must go to the reliquary and speak with the Adepts.’
Dolan nodded.
Unexpected, indeed! Is Jonek truly the long-awaited "Seer" - or something else?
Now that's a turnaround! But can Jonek keep it all together?
Well, well, well, well, well ...
Hadn't seen that coming.
Hadn't seen that coming.
Oh, the pain.....(reboot root sys/adjust parameters/loading...) There, that's better. Now I can deal with your curve balls a little easier.(freakin' Vista sux) The Seer? Sokal is screwed-I'm thinking of the scene in Methuselah's Children when the little furry people send the Families back to their ship...
USS Dauntless
Eeroth IV orbit
Stardate 57392.9
Commander Aaron Wright sat in the captain’s ready room with a smile on his face. For the last eight years he had planned this and it was now coming to fruition. All he needed was a few minor adjustments to the ship and he would be ready to go. The rest of the crew would just be along for the ride. He was busy with the administrative side of being a commanding officer, confirming reports and crew rosters, when someone pressed the enunciator to enter.
‘Come,’ he called.
Lieutenant Jamal Mahtani entered, looking somewhat bewildered. ‘Commander.’
Wright smiled but it made Mahtani feel worse. ‘I want you to take a look at this padd and tell me whether you think the modifications can be made to the deflector dish.’
Mahtani took the padd and glanced at it. ‘I believe so, but Commander Xeris would be better suited to making the modifications.’
Wright stood and leaned over the desk. ‘I don’t want Xeris to do it. I’m asking you. I want those modifications ready as soon as possible, dismissed.’
‘Aye sir,’ Mahtani replied and hurried out the room.
Wright knew that it would take several days and in the meantime he would continue to follow Captain Astar’s previous orders, to help the Eeroth rid themselves of the Cha’lav. He looked over the current situation on the planet, provided by the former president over the last two days, made a decision. Since the Eeroth were already in the process of rebuilding, it made sense for the ship to be where the action was, but he wanted to make sure the atmosphere was completely breathable first—which meant pulling his chief science officer off the deflector modifications. Apparently his plan was going to have to wait a little longer.
‘Wright to Mahtani, meet me in science lab three,’ the commander said, remembering the lab which was set up for such a possibility.
‘On my way.’
Mahtani was already there when Wright entered the room, and no other science officer was in sight. ‘Where is everyone?’
‘Working on their assigned tasks, sir,’ the chief science officer replied. ‘How can I help you?’
‘How badly damaged is Eeroth IV’s atmosphere?’
This was an area for which Mahtani had no compunction about working for. ‘Pollution is approximately equivalent to the immediate post-World War Three era and the radiation is exceptionally high in some locations. All the rebuilding they’re involved in will come to nothing if the atmosphere is given a chance to heal, and quickly.’
‘Is there anything we can do to help?’
Mahtani considered his answer for he had been asking himself that very question since they arrived. ‘It is possible to force a large storm front which would remove the pollution, but it is extremely dangerous for anyone living on the planet.’
‘How so?’
‘The northern hemisphere would freeze and as much of the population as possible should be moved below the equatorial region.’
‘And after that?’
‘The air will be clear of most of the major pollutants, the airborne radiation will have dispersed and we can work on the irradiated soil.’
‘How long before the planet is habitable to Eeroth norms again if we go this course of action?’
‘We should be able to do everything in about three weeks, if we accelerate all the timetables. But there is a significant chance, if our calculations are off by too much, of permanent damage to the planetary ecosystem.’
‘We’ll render it totally uninhabitable?’
‘Yes sir.’
‘Prepare a report for President Janar and I will propose it to him.’
‘Yes sir,’ Mahtani said and paused, as if waiting for something.
‘Make this your top priority and reassign whoever you need.’
‘Aye sir,’ the science officer replied, knowing that the deflector modifications would have to wait. It would also give him a chance to speak with the captain about them because what Wright was planning was illegal and carried a serious penalty. But he needed more proof than a few specifications on a padd, he needed intent for Astar and Maxx to declare Wright unfit for duty. He let none of that show on his face though.
‘I’ll be on the bridge if I’m needed.’
‘Yes sir.’
Wright left the science lab and realised as he walked down the corridor that Mahtani knew what he was planning and probably wouldn’t do it, unless he had a reason to. It was time to look at his Starfleet file and see if anything cropped up. He knew that he couldn’t arrange an accident for that would look too suspicious, especially since the Captain was indisposed, and hoped that the file would give him something.
‘Maxx to Wright.’
‘Go ahead, Doctor.’
‘I need to speak with you, urgently.’
‘I’m on my way,’ Wright replied and cursed himself again. It would appear that the damned doctor had figured out what was wrong with the captain. His fears were confirmed when he entered sickbay and saw Lieutenant Parker, the ship’s security chief.
‘Commander, thank you for coming so quickly,’ Maxx said and indicated the only occupied biobed.
‘What is it?’ he asked, his tone appropriately concerned.
‘Leza has been poisoned, but it is only affecting the symbiont, not her. That’s the reason she acted so strangely the other day, the symbiont’s former personalities are coming through.’
‘Who would do something like that, why? What can you do?’
‘Until I find out exactly what poison was used, there’s nothing I can do. I have taken enough blood samples to use and enough scans of both host and symbiont to conduct an investigation, but I need your permission to put her in stasis until I can stop the damage, otherwise they’ll both die.’
Wright inwardly sighed with relief. ‘Very well, we need her at full capacity as soon as possible, Doctor,’ he said. ‘How long has this been going on?’
‘I don’t know.’
Wright turned to Parker. ‘Lieutenant, I want to know the captain’s exact movements since she arrived on board. The sooner we pinpoint how the poison was delivered, the sooner we can reverse it.’
Parker nodded. ‘I’ll get right on it, sir.’
Eeroth IV orbit
Stardate 57392.9
Commander Aaron Wright sat in the captain’s ready room with a smile on his face. For the last eight years he had planned this and it was now coming to fruition. All he needed was a few minor adjustments to the ship and he would be ready to go. The rest of the crew would just be along for the ride. He was busy with the administrative side of being a commanding officer, confirming reports and crew rosters, when someone pressed the enunciator to enter.
‘Come,’ he called.
Lieutenant Jamal Mahtani entered, looking somewhat bewildered. ‘Commander.’
Wright smiled but it made Mahtani feel worse. ‘I want you to take a look at this padd and tell me whether you think the modifications can be made to the deflector dish.’
Mahtani took the padd and glanced at it. ‘I believe so, but Commander Xeris would be better suited to making the modifications.’
Wright stood and leaned over the desk. ‘I don’t want Xeris to do it. I’m asking you. I want those modifications ready as soon as possible, dismissed.’
‘Aye sir,’ Mahtani replied and hurried out the room.
Wright knew that it would take several days and in the meantime he would continue to follow Captain Astar’s previous orders, to help the Eeroth rid themselves of the Cha’lav. He looked over the current situation on the planet, provided by the former president over the last two days, made a decision. Since the Eeroth were already in the process of rebuilding, it made sense for the ship to be where the action was, but he wanted to make sure the atmosphere was completely breathable first—which meant pulling his chief science officer off the deflector modifications. Apparently his plan was going to have to wait a little longer.
‘Wright to Mahtani, meet me in science lab three,’ the commander said, remembering the lab which was set up for such a possibility.
‘On my way.’
Mahtani was already there when Wright entered the room, and no other science officer was in sight. ‘Where is everyone?’
‘Working on their assigned tasks, sir,’ the chief science officer replied. ‘How can I help you?’
‘How badly damaged is Eeroth IV’s atmosphere?’
This was an area for which Mahtani had no compunction about working for. ‘Pollution is approximately equivalent to the immediate post-World War Three era and the radiation is exceptionally high in some locations. All the rebuilding they’re involved in will come to nothing if the atmosphere is given a chance to heal, and quickly.’
‘Is there anything we can do to help?’
Mahtani considered his answer for he had been asking himself that very question since they arrived. ‘It is possible to force a large storm front which would remove the pollution, but it is extremely dangerous for anyone living on the planet.’
‘How so?’
‘The northern hemisphere would freeze and as much of the population as possible should be moved below the equatorial region.’
‘And after that?’
‘The air will be clear of most of the major pollutants, the airborne radiation will have dispersed and we can work on the irradiated soil.’
‘How long before the planet is habitable to Eeroth norms again if we go this course of action?’
‘We should be able to do everything in about three weeks, if we accelerate all the timetables. But there is a significant chance, if our calculations are off by too much, of permanent damage to the planetary ecosystem.’
‘We’ll render it totally uninhabitable?’
‘Yes sir.’
‘Prepare a report for President Janar and I will propose it to him.’
‘Yes sir,’ Mahtani said and paused, as if waiting for something.
‘Make this your top priority and reassign whoever you need.’
‘Aye sir,’ the science officer replied, knowing that the deflector modifications would have to wait. It would also give him a chance to speak with the captain about them because what Wright was planning was illegal and carried a serious penalty. But he needed more proof than a few specifications on a padd, he needed intent for Astar and Maxx to declare Wright unfit for duty. He let none of that show on his face though.
‘I’ll be on the bridge if I’m needed.’
‘Yes sir.’
Wright left the science lab and realised as he walked down the corridor that Mahtani knew what he was planning and probably wouldn’t do it, unless he had a reason to. It was time to look at his Starfleet file and see if anything cropped up. He knew that he couldn’t arrange an accident for that would look too suspicious, especially since the Captain was indisposed, and hoped that the file would give him something.
‘Maxx to Wright.’
‘Go ahead, Doctor.’
‘I need to speak with you, urgently.’
‘I’m on my way,’ Wright replied and cursed himself again. It would appear that the damned doctor had figured out what was wrong with the captain. His fears were confirmed when he entered sickbay and saw Lieutenant Parker, the ship’s security chief.
‘Commander, thank you for coming so quickly,’ Maxx said and indicated the only occupied biobed.
‘What is it?’ he asked, his tone appropriately concerned.
‘Leza has been poisoned, but it is only affecting the symbiont, not her. That’s the reason she acted so strangely the other day, the symbiont’s former personalities are coming through.’
‘Who would do something like that, why? What can you do?’
‘Until I find out exactly what poison was used, there’s nothing I can do. I have taken enough blood samples to use and enough scans of both host and symbiont to conduct an investigation, but I need your permission to put her in stasis until I can stop the damage, otherwise they’ll both die.’
Wright inwardly sighed with relief. ‘Very well, we need her at full capacity as soon as possible, Doctor,’ he said. ‘How long has this been going on?’
‘I don’t know.’
Wright turned to Parker. ‘Lieutenant, I want to know the captain’s exact movements since she arrived on board. The sooner we pinpoint how the poison was delivered, the sooner we can reverse it.’
Parker nodded. ‘I’ll get right on it, sir.’
Well, this proves that Wright really is a snake in the grass! - no big surprise there. Questions remain as to his ultimate objectives and to whether he's discovered before Astar becomes his next victim.
Good stuff!
Good stuff!
And so Wright's agenda begins to surface...
I have a feeling the wheels are soon going to begin to go off Wright's train soon...
I have a feeling the wheels are soon going to begin to go off Wright's train soon...
He's not aiming for a death sentence, just a chance to go home.
Similar threads
